Education Scotland has a number of important priorities through which we will support improvement this year, including taking forward the Scottish Attainment Challenge Framework for Recovery and Accelerating Progress. In addition, work on the enhanced curriculum and professional learning and leadership support for the profession and significant activity related to education reform. In this context, and to support these priorities, Education Scotland is seeking to recruit a number of colleagues to ‘associate’ roles.

The introduction of the Education Scotland Associate (ESA) role recognises our commitment to increasing opportunities for the profession to be actively engaged in the work of the organisation and to work more proactively with the teachers (and other educators), moving towards the aspiration of a teacher facing, profession led organisation as recommended in Professor Ken Muir’s report (Putting Learners at the Centre: Towards a Future Vision for Scottish Education). The role builds on the success of our work with Associate Assessors who support inspection activity.

ESAs would be engaged in the improvement work across the regional, national and professional learning and leadership directorates within Education Scotland. They will work with us on an ‘as required’ basis, depending on current priorities and the need to enhance specialist capacity to support improvement and policy delivery at national, regional and local level.

To circumvent any conflicts of interest, the ESA role will be for individuals who are not currently undertaking an Associate Assessor (AA) position.

ESAs will work alongside Education Scotland staff and would be fully trained prior to deployment. We are seeking applications from suitably qualified and experienced staff who have expertise in the following areas:

• Quality Assurance
• Quality Improvement
• Leadership Development
• Curriculum Development
• Effective use of data to drive improvement
• Developing positive school ethos and culture
• Early Learning and Childcare
• Empowerment
• Community Learning and Development

Applications must be endorsed by their Head Teacher/Director/Chief Education Officer who is in agreement to their release to be involved in this work. The release of ESAs will be reimbursed in the same way as our current AAs. Applications should be received no later than 31 October 2022.

Please view the application form here: Word file: Application form (81 KB)

All applicants will be subject to a selection process, and successful candidates will be provided with the appropriate training.

To support our recruitment process, we would like to include colleagues or other appropriate senior staff as part of the recruitment panel. If you would be interested in being involved please let us know.

Should you require any further information or are willing to be involved in the recruitment of ESAs, please contact Craig Clement at Craig.Clement@educationscotland.gov.scot

Frequently Asked Questions

If I already applied to the ESA role in September 2022 do I need to apply again?
No. Thank you for applying. You do not need to apply again.

Can I take an ESA role without endorsement from my Head Teacher/ Director/ Chief Education Officer?
No. All applications must be endorsed by your Head Teacher/ Director/ Chief Education Officer. They must be in agreement to your release to be involved in this work.

How many days will I be engaged as an ESA per annum if successful?
Whilst the application form indicates the maximum number of days per annum will be 15, it is important to stress that this is a notional figure and any engagement would be agreed on a case by case basis with the relevant local authority. This could vary depending on the experience and knowledge being provided by an ESA, and could be an engagement of 2/3 weeks or spread over the year depending on the nature of the work.

What responsibilities will I have as an ESA?
This is an opportunity to build on developing relationships and collaboration with local government colleagues, not least in providing support where it is most required, utilising expertise from across Scotland particularly in areas where we have additional capacity, knowledge or experience. For example, it could be to support curriculum development at national level, or in an individual establishment or local authority where there is a need to accelerate progress, help development of quality assurance/ improvement arrangements, be involved in national/ local PLL provision or assist in development of wider system requirements.

Is the ESA role different to the Associate Assessor role?
Yes. This is a different role from the established Associate Assessor role which plays a vital part in Education Scotland’s Inspection Programme. No individual could be an Associate Assessor and an ESA at the same time.

What reimbursement will be made to the relevant local authority?
The reimbursement to local authorities will be £198 per day, in line with the current arrangements for Associate Assessors, but we will keep this under review.

Will the ESA role change over time?
This is a new role, and a new way of working for us, and accordingly it will evolve over time based on experience. Feedback will help to shape the future cohorts of Education Scotland Associates.

I’ve retired from my substantive job. Can I apply for the ESA role?
Yes. It will be possible for colleagues who have retired from their substantive job to apply for the ESA role. In these circumstances, you will not need an endorsement from your employer, but you may be asked to provide an appropriate referee.